Try to communicate what makes you you in the span of an elevator ride. Invariably every company has to, which is why it’s referred to as an “elevator speech.” For Tact Publicité, their spiel came to me as naturally as a crush and was  inspired by what I know of their employees: passionate, willing to [...]

[Read more →]

“A muse has the power to set the mind aflame and strip the imagination of all inhibition.”

“Speaking to the many artists who owe the world’s most treasured works to muses of infinite variety, the brand ‘Muse’ immediately positions the drink in the realm of sacred substances. There is mystery inherent to the role and at [...]

[Read more →]

“Hamlet” is an heirloom word, given to the English by the French. A diminutive for hamel, meaning “little village,” a true hamelet is in fact much smaller than any village. In some instances, it can be as small as a nine-hole golf course.
At a time when most real estate developments are on hold, precarious or [...]

[Read more →]

Of all the self-made people I have come across in my life and career, Altitude Concepts founder Jean-François Grenier is by far the most unforgettably enthusiastic. What makes him so unforgettable is how he is able to contain, manage and channel his enthusiasm into meticulously organized, outstandingly creative events for an impressively diverse roster of [...]

[Read more →]

“When the world is your oyster, it is only fitting that your home be a pearl.”
In the hospitality world, few names are shrouded in as much mystery and luxury as Raffles. The original Singapore flagship was a destination for journeyers of royal, noble and notorious background for over a century. Writing for Raffles’ recent acquisition [...]

[Read more →]

The redevelopment of Montreal’s oldest Irish ghetto by Devimco (creators of the Quartier DIX30 on Highway 10) has been a hot topic for front page news, debate and speculation since the project was first leaked. Working closely with architect/master planner Eric Kuhne and his team from Civic Arts in London, I was brought in to [...]

[Read more →]

Let’s be clear about one thing: In the securities business, what goes on in your back office is crucial to your clients, your reputation and your bottom line.
I had no idea what a ‘back office’ was when I began this job, and to be honest, my notion of what exactly goes on in one remains [...]

[Read more →]

“Orléans, Beaugency, Notre-Dame de Paris, Vendôme, Vendôme.”

Naming – whether a product, property or entire community – can be one of the hardest parts of the job and the strongest argument for a compelling story. For this contemporary residential building located across from Notre Dame Basilica in one of Old Montreal’s most well-preserved corners, the story [...]

[Read more →]

In June, 2008, I was asked to tell the story of the Ritz-Carlton Hotel’s centennial transformation and expansion into the world of prime, luxury real estate. As one would expect, there were enough tales about the original Ritz-Carlton and its patrons to keep a gaggle of cocktail party guests entertained for days. Liberace, Sophia Loren, [...]

[Read more →]